Coatings Rheology - Part 1

Scientific approach is very common today in R&D and technical problem solving related to a wide range of coating issues. However, trial-and-error is still the most prevalent approach when it comes to addressing rheological issues. Often, major problems related to rheology do not come to surface until scale up of laboratory formulations. A trial-and-error approach is very resource-intensive, especially during the scale up stage. Prerequisites for the scientific approach are the combined knowledge of how coating formulation ingredients and their interactions impact rheological properties (structure/property relationships), and how these properties impact real-world flow behavior (property/performance relationships) of coatings during mixing, pumping, application, and flow and leveling, etc. This two-part course is designed to provide coating formulators with the necessary foundation for both of these aspects.

This course covers important rheology parameters (viscosity, shear-thinning, thixotropy, viscoelasticity, etc.) and their measurement. How these parameters are related to various formulation aspects is discussed.

Learning Objectives

Gain a better understanding of rheological parameters and their significance in coating formulations

Learn how to measure key rheological properties

Understand the relationships between rheological properties and coating flow behavior during applications

Understand relationships between formulation ingredients and their interactions on rheology

Learn how to apply rheological principles in developing formulations instead of using the trial and error method

Learn how to anticipate and solve rheological problems before formulation scale up.

Target Audience

R&D personnel, technology managers, quality control/assurance specialists, and coatings formulators will benefit. In addition, the courses are designed for suppliers of raw materials, suppliers of instruments and equipment used in coatings analysis or manufacture, companies that formulate and market coatings, users of industrial coatings, and government personnel responsible for military or aerospace coatings or for regulating emissions from coatings.

Course Instructor

Dr. Fernando has been the Arthur C. Edwards Endowed Chair and Director of Polymers and Coatings Program within the Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry at California Polytechnic State University since 2002. He received his Ph.D. in 1986 from North Dakota State University in Polymers and Coatings. Dr. Fernando has 15 years of industrial experience in coatings, with extensive knowledge in waterborne technology. He was a Lead Research Scientist in R&D at Air Products and Chemicals, involved with the rheology of a wide range of coatings and adhesives, coatings for electronics, and nanocomposites, and was a Program Manager for Armstrong World Industries, running the coating research program that supports global manufacturing and marketing needs of Armstrong Building Products Division. His current research at Cal Poly includes understanding nanoparticle reinforcements of coatings and impact of coating ingredients on rheology. Dr. Fernando has many publications and patents, and has given numerous lectures and presentations related to coatings rheology around the world. He is has served as the Chair of Federation of Societies for CoatingsTechnology (FSCT)'s Technical Events Coordinating Committee (TECC) and the recipient of FSCT's President's Award in 2005.

Join ACA Today

ACA offers valued benefits to technical professionals, educators, sales and marketing professionals, and consultants working in the paint and coatings industry. We also offer memberships for students who may be interested in learning more about the industry and retired professionals who have served the industry during their careers.